By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson – Family, friends and colleagues gathered June 14 at St. Michael Church for the funeral service of Argeo Paul Cellucci, former Massachusetts governor and ambassador to Canada. His daughters, Anne Cellucci Adams and Kate Garnett Cellucci, offered words of remembrance.
“We stand before you as two of the luckiest girls in the world to have had Paul Cellucci as our father,” Anne said. “No matter who we met or where he took us – from Dunkin” Donuts to the White House – he always treated everybody who crossed his path with the same kindness and respect.”
She also spoke of the loving relationship between him and their mother, Jan.
“They met in high school, went to the prom together, and married while my mom was still in college,” she said. “The minute my dad was diagnosed with ALS, my mom literally stopped everything else in her life and never left his side.”
Kate shared stories of her father's longtime friendship with Bob Yesue, both St. Michael School and Hudson Catholic High alum. Each Christmas, their dad and Bob were in charge of purchasing only one gift: each other's. A specific Christmas was particularly memorable.
“As presents were opened, they quickly realized that they had bought each other the same gift,” she said. “They bought each other the exact same shirt – same style, same color, same everything.”
Kate said that her father always told her politicians need a home base.
“Hudson was his home base,” she said. “He loved Hudson and its people. Even through all his amazing journeys, he always made it back here.”
Among the elected officials in attendance were Gov. Deval Patrick; U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and William “Mo” Cowan; former Govs. Mitt Romney, Jane Swift and William Weld; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton; state Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Stow; and Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant.
(Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.)